JACKSON, MI – The Jackson County courthouse has been evacuated because of a strong odor of what is believed to be natural gas.

Employees and others were asked to leave the building about noon Monday, May 19, and Jackson firefighters are checking into the situation. Their trucks are parked near the corner of S. Jackson and W. Wesley streets.

It is not clear at this time what is causing the odor.

Groups of people are standing along W. Wesley Street and in the parking lot across the street from the county sheriff's office. Others too have come out of the offices along S. Jackson Street, but not all the surrounding buildings have been emptied.